Comments Off on New light-filled learning center celebrates the food history in one of Denmarks oldest towns

Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter just won a competition to design a new cultural center for one of the oldest settlements in Denmark . The winning proposal, called Kornets Hus (“Grain House”), will be an activity-based learning center in Hjørring focused on the importance of grain to Jutland—a region believed to have been populated 10,000 years ago. Kornets Hus will be of a minimalist and modern design built largely from brick and timber that takes inspiration from the region’s diverse landscapes, folk culture, and agricultural heritage. Commissioned by Realdania , the L-shaped 680-square-meter Kornets Hus is set on a site with an existing farm and bakery. The learning center will offer visitors as well as locals and employees engaging educational experiences about the region’s rich food and farming culture. In addition to educational and exhibition spaces, the building will also include a cafe, store, and offices. Related: Norwegian Mountaineering Centre mimics a dramatic snow-covered mountain The building features a simple and flexible plan to accommodate a wide variety of activities. Two brick-clad light wells , reminiscent of baker kilns, bookend the structure’s two ends. Skylights and large windows also help maximize access to natural light . Glazing on the west facade frame views of wheat fields and connect to an outdoor terrace. A large bread oven forms the heart of the public spaces. + Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter Images via Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter

Photo: margaret atwood Margaret Atwood, writer and Canada’s National Treasure, is issuing a limited edition of her latest book on straw paper. The paper is made solely of straw leftover after the grain harvest. Her new book, In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination, will be the first in North America to be printed on this energy saving paper…. Read the full story on TreeHugger

Comments Off on A Cork Floor for the Sagrada Familia, Visited by Millions Each Year. (Photos)

Photo credit: Wicanders Finally, the inside of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is done. The church, set out to build 125 years ago and expected to be finished in 2026, attracts millions of visitors every year. This is no surprise due to the breathtaking design by Catalan architect Antoni GaudÃ­ (1852-1926), and the current designers and architects who work on making his plans reality, using the latest technologies such as

Screenshot via YouTube It’s no secret that the cutest, most widely recognizable animals tend to be the most likely to benefit from humanity’s capacity for conserving nature, though it turns out that not all exposure is good exposure. According to the latest research on chimpanzees in media, people really seem to love seeing their closest primate cousins on TV and in movies, but doing so may actually be negatively impacting our perceptions of them — lulling viewers into believing all is well in the chimp world, when in fact the opposite is true…. Read the full story on TreeHugger